Junior Lauren Mullis was elected and inducted as the 2019-20 State President of FCCLA on Wednesday, April 3.

“My advisor Ms. (Brittney) Willis came up to me at this leadership training that I was at and asked me if I would be interested in running for State Office,” Mullis said. “I was kind of hesitant because I didn’t really know that much about it, but I said, ‘I guess I’ll try it.’ Then we had a district meeting for all FCCLA in district eight, which is here, Buncombe County, all those kinds of schools. And I had to write a speech and give it in front of 200 people and answer two random questions in front of them all and then they all voted. I ran against two other people, but they voted for me.”

Friends of Mullis said she has been a guiding figure in the club for a time before being recognized for it and elected to the State office.

“Lauren is willing to help anyone that needs help, and I feel like I can go to her with any of my problems,” junior Destiny Queen said. “She inspires me to be nicer to everyone and to try to go out of my way to do kind things for other people.”

By taking on this new role in the club, Mullis will have more responsibilities, but she said she feels prepared and grateful to take on the challenge.

“I’m doing the same thing as everybody else does, but also on top of that, I have to make sure everybody else is doing what they’re supposed to do,” Mullis said. “I have to remind them of deadlines, remind them when things are due and kind of keep them up to date on what we need to be doing.”

Through the changes to Mullis’ responsibilities and her role as a leader, she said she has felt secure with her friends and club members helping her succeed.

“My fellow members from West have been so supportive of me,” Mullis said. “And even when I thought that I couldn’t do it, they’ve definitely been pushing me and really encouraging me to try as far as I can and go for it even if I didn’t believe in myself.”

By: Jackson Futch, Feature Writer